DUBAI, Feb 20 (Reuters) – Iran and the United States are sliding rapidly towards military conflict as hopes fade for a diplomatic solution to their standoff over Tehran’s nuclear programme, officials on both sides and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe say.
Iran’s Gulf neighbours and its enemy Israel now consider a conflict to be more likely than a settlement, these sources say, with Washington building up one of its biggest military deployments in the region since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Israel’s government believes Tehran and Washington are at an impasse and is making preparations for possible joint military action with the United States, though no decision has been made yet on whether to carry out such an operation, said a source familiar with the planning.
It would be the second time the U.S. and Israel have attacked Iran in less than a year, following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against military and nuclear facilities last June.
Regional officials say oil-producing Gulf countries are preparing for a possible military confrontation that they fear could spin out of control and destabilise the Middle East.
Two Israeli officials told Reuters they believe the gaps between Washington and Tehran are unbridgeable and that the chances of a near‑term military escalation are high.
Some regional officials say Tehran is dangerously miscalculating by holding out for concessions, with U.S. President Donald Trump boxed in by his own military buildup – unable to scale it back without losing face if there is no firm commitment from Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.
„Both sides are sticking to their guns,“ said Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat and Iran specialist, adding that nothing meaningful can emerge „unless the U.S. and Iran walk back from their red lines – which I don’t think they will.“
„What Trump can’t do is assemble all this military, and then come back with a ’so‑so‘ deal and pull out the military. I think he thinks he’ll lose face,“ he said. „If he attacks, it’s going to get ugly quickly.“
…
Phatshis on
seems inevitable now.
Remember when Trump bombed Iran few months back, and said that its over and done, and peace can resume now?
What a bunch of baloney it was.
Cirrus-Nova on
They are not sliding into conflict. The US is deliberately taking these steps.
woohooguy on
Anyone that thought negotiations would be productive and respectful are remembering previous presidents of the US and not orange jesus.
The next billion dollar swindle after Venezuela is Iran because its low hanging fruit ready to pluck and not defend.
All_Hail_Hynotoad on
Entirely manufactured conflict
ThatsAllFolksAgain on
Could this spark some kind of a backlash against America all around the world? Maybe against Israel also? Or worse still a full blown WWIII
LovingShiva on
Slide?
Does no one write decent headlines?
Primary-Lawyer-8378 on
The military industrial complex must feed, and then use those funds to prop up the AI bubble. Very simple
AggressiveRip2776 on
Isreal is getting the US to do it’s dirty work once more.
Monkiemonk on
Hahaha “Israel says the US and Iran have come to an impasse” OMG….translation Iran won’t do what Israel wants
jaccleve on
Like a slippin slide. They make it sound fun.
Atomaurus on
God dammit fuck all this bullshit. How can these criminals keep getting away with these acts of war, literally almost our whole US government has just been outed as pedophile sadistic pieces of absolute garbage. Nothings happening and no one’s being punished, instead they’re allowed to start wars. Again and again. Fuck trump
EdiblePeasant on
I don’t believe it at this time.
Reverend_Fozz on
You mean Trump is going to attack Iran again because he isn’t getting his way.
WaffleHouseGladiator on
The US military didn’t pull up in party busses because they DIDN’T want to throw down. This is almost certainly going to happen.
hrtofdrknss on
Those redactions in the Epstein files must be devastating.
dope_sheet on
When are those Winter Olympics over? Trump pulling Putin moves like when he invaded Crimea.
KlingelbeuteI on
You all got it wrong. He is the president of peace! It’s just going to be a special military operation. 3 days. Max.
Emergency_Link7328 on
So many people will die because Trump and the MAGA are proven pedophiles that are all documented in the Epstein files.
RaggaDruida on
Honestly, those 2 theocratic regimes deserve each other.
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Partial text
—
DUBAI, Feb 20 (Reuters) – Iran and the United States are sliding rapidly towards military conflict as hopes fade for a diplomatic solution to their standoff over Tehran’s nuclear programme, officials on both sides and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe say.
Iran’s Gulf neighbours and its enemy Israel now consider a conflict to be more likely than a settlement, these sources say, with Washington building up one of its biggest military deployments in the region since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Israel’s government believes Tehran and Washington are at an impasse and is making preparations for possible joint military action with the United States, though no decision has been made yet on whether to carry out such an operation, said a source familiar with the planning.
It would be the second time the U.S. and Israel have attacked Iran in less than a year, following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against military and nuclear facilities last June.
Regional officials say oil-producing Gulf countries are preparing for a possible military confrontation that they fear could spin out of control and destabilise the Middle East.
Two Israeli officials told Reuters they believe the gaps between Washington and Tehran are unbridgeable and that the chances of a near‑term military escalation are high.
Some regional officials say Tehran is dangerously miscalculating by holding out for concessions, with U.S. President Donald Trump boxed in by his own military buildup – unable to scale it back without losing face if there is no firm commitment from Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.
„Both sides are sticking to their guns,“ said Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat and Iran specialist, adding that nothing meaningful can emerge „unless the U.S. and Iran walk back from their red lines – which I don’t think they will.“
„What Trump can’t do is assemble all this military, and then come back with a ’so‑so‘ deal and pull out the military. I think he thinks he’ll lose face,“ he said. „If he attacks, it’s going to get ugly quickly.“
…
seems inevitable now.
Remember when Trump bombed Iran few months back, and said that its over and done, and peace can resume now?
What a bunch of baloney it was.
They are not sliding into conflict. The US is deliberately taking these steps.
Anyone that thought negotiations would be productive and respectful are remembering previous presidents of the US and not orange jesus.
The next billion dollar swindle after Venezuela is Iran because its low hanging fruit ready to pluck and not defend.
Entirely manufactured conflict
Could this spark some kind of a backlash against America all around the world? Maybe against Israel also? Or worse still a full blown WWIII
Slide?
Does no one write decent headlines?
The military industrial complex must feed, and then use those funds to prop up the AI bubble. Very simple
Isreal is getting the US to do it’s dirty work once more.
Hahaha “Israel says the US and Iran have come to an impasse” OMG….translation Iran won’t do what Israel wants
Like a slippin slide. They make it sound fun.
God dammit fuck all this bullshit. How can these criminals keep getting away with these acts of war, literally almost our whole US government has just been outed as pedophile sadistic pieces of absolute garbage. Nothings happening and no one’s being punished, instead they’re allowed to start wars. Again and again. Fuck trump
I don’t believe it at this time.
You mean Trump is going to attack Iran again because he isn’t getting his way.
The US military didn’t pull up in party busses because they DIDN’T want to throw down. This is almost certainly going to happen.
Those redactions in the Epstein files must be devastating.
When are those Winter Olympics over? Trump pulling Putin moves like when he invaded Crimea.
You all got it wrong. He is the president of peace! It’s just going to be a special military operation. 3 days. Max.
So many people will die because Trump and the MAGA are proven pedophiles that are all documented in the Epstein files.
Honestly, those 2 theocratic regimes deserve each other.